MOVIE REVIEW: Terminator Salvation

Movie lovers lamented the announcement that three additional Terminator movies would be in the works. The reasons for this were thus - the only attempt to emulate the superb first two films is Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines, which turned out to be clunky and pointless; and the decision was based on the worst reason for making a movie - cash. Halcyon Pictures bought the rights two years ago, and whilst most movies are made with profit in mind (c’mon, we’re not that naïve) usually an idea for a film comes first. Nonetheless, excitable Charlie’s Angels director McG was put in the director’s chair and an impressive cast assembled, and things looked a little brighter.

Terminator Salvation is set in 2019, when SkyNet’s army of Terminators have destroyed most of humanity in a nuclear holocaust. What’s left of the human resistance is led by John Connor (Christian Bale), haunted by the responsibility his mother has given to him, and for the first time facing an uncertain future. Things are made worse when Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin), his future father, is number one on the Terminator’s hit list, and must choose to trust drifter Marcus (Sam Worthington) if he is to avoid destroying the past as well as the future.

Film scholars will tell you that most classic sci-fi films are in fact twists on old genres. If Alien is your basic haunted house tale, and Star Wars a western, then it could be argued that the first Terminator film has more in common with slasher flicks such as Friday The 13th. Not so this instalment, which feels a lot more like a war film. There’s no denying there are many flaws. The constant movie references range from the clever (look out for a familiar face in an amazing cameo) to the cringy (Bale steals Arnie’s line); the script is cheesy as hell; and being a McG film there’s plenty of Tinnitus-inducing explosions. It has two major things in its favour however. Firstly, it’s something different - the old cat and mouse formula was stale and so it’s to their credit that they move in this new direction. Secondly, and most crucially, it makes the Terminators scary again, which makes the action tenser and makes the whole thing a lot more fun.  

Bale is as you would expect him - intense, brooding, quick to anger. He still makes a great lead but you can tell this is him giving about 80% rather than the usual 150 (it also makes the infamous rant more unusual given this is really a big brash action film, not some intense independent drama). Yelchin further cements his ‘future Edward Norton’ status, adding a solid performance that’s remarkably like Michael Beihn’s portrayal. Worthington works his socks off, and while he’s still not quite in Bale’s league he does really well. Another notable turn is Helena Bonham Carter, putting in a really creepy performance at either end of the film.

It’s a different beast entirely to its predecessors, and to some fans that will simply be unacceptable. To those without lofty expectations, however, it’s a great ride with a lot of bangs for your buck.